Melkamu Dagnew | Infectious Diseases | Editorial Board Member

Mr. Melkamu Dagnew | Infectious Diseases | Editorial Board Member

Lecurer | Bahir Dar University| Ethiopia

Melkamu Andargie is a dedicated scholar in plant pathology and plant disease management whose work reflects a strong commitment to advancing sustainable agricultural systems and improving crop resilience through scientific innovation. With a research background rooted in rigorous academic training at Bahir Dar University, he has contributed to a diverse portfolio of studies spanning plant–microbe interactions, disease epidemiology, biocontrol strategies, and the broader ecological dimensions of agricultural health. His publications demonstrate a wide-ranging expertise, from exploring the ethnobiological importance of animals in traditional medicine to investigating physiological interventions such as gibberellic acid seed priming for enhancing germination and early growth under salinity stress. He has also collaborated extensively on multidisciplinary assessments of environmental contaminants, including heavy metal accumulation in aquatic ecosystems, reflecting his broader interest in agroecological safety and public health. In the field of crop protection, his reviews and field-based research provide critical insights into the occurrence, distribution, and management of major cereal diseases, particularly rice and finger millet pathologies that threaten food security in vulnerable regions. His recent work highlights the potential of microbial biocontrol agents in managing destructive fungal diseases, underscoring his commitment to eco-friendly, scalable solutions for smallholder farming communities. Through active collaboration with national and international researchers across plant sciences, crop protection, microbiology, and environmental studies, he has built a research profile that contributes meaningfully to global scientific discourse. His scholarship has gained steady recognition through citations and readership across respected journals, reflecting both academic impact and practical relevance. Overall, Melkamu Andargie’s research advances evidence-based, sustainable approaches to plant health, while supporting agricultural resilience, environmental stewardship, and improved livelihoods for farming communities. He has 114 citations from 8 documents with an h-index of 4.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus 

Publications

1. Kendie, F. A., Mekuriaw, S. A., & Dagnew, M. A. (2018). Ethnozoological study of traditional medicinal appreciation of animals and their products among the indigenous people of Metema Woreda, North-Western Ethiopia. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine.

2. Tsegay, B. A., & Andargie, M. (2018). Seed priming with Gibberellic Acid (GA₃) alleviates salinity induced inhibition of germination and seedling growth of Zea mays L. and Pisum sativum var. abyssinicum A. Braun. Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology.

3. Kindie, M., Andargie, M., Hilluf, W., & Amare, M. (2020). Assessment on level of selected heavy metals in Nile tilapia and Barbus fish species and water samples from the southern parts of Lake Tana, Ethiopia. Scientific African.

4. Andargie, M., Abera, M., Tesfaye, A., & Demis, E. (2024). Occurrence, distribution, and management experiences of rice (Oryza sativa L.) major diseases and pests in Ethiopia: A review. Cogent Food & Agriculture.

5. Andargie, M., Abera, M., Alemu, T., & Bekele, B. (2024). The potential of bacterial biocontrols in managing finger millet blast disease and promoting growth: A review. The Microbe.

Mohammad Mehdi Akbarin | Virology | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Akbarin | Virology | Best Researcher Award 

Postdoctoral Fellow | UNAM | Mexico

Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Akbarin is a distinguished Iranian immunologist and molecular virologist whose academic and research pursuits bridge medical immunology, viral oncology, and immunogenetics. Currently serving as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Virology at the Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (FESC–UNAM), his work focuses on understanding genetic variations that influence susceptibility and resistance to Bovine Leukemia Virus infection in cattle, contributing to translational advancements in comparative immunovirology. He earned his Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Medical Immunology from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, where his pioneering research on HTLV-1 molecular pathogenesis, recombinant antigen development, and immunotherapeutic target design laid a foundation for novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies against viral-associated malignancies such as Adult T-cell Leukemia/Lymphoma. Dr. Akbarin has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in high-impact international journals, covering areas such as cell signaling, host-virus interactions, and immune regulatory mechanisms, while also contributing to scientific books on human T-lymphotropic viruses and related diseases. His interdisciplinary collaborations span institutions across Iran, South Korea, and Mexico, underscoring his global engagement in biomedical research. Beyond his scholarly output, he has played instrumental roles in organizing international scientific congresses and mentoring medical and laboratory science students in immunology, bacteriology, and molecular diagnostics. His contributions to immunogenetics and translational virology have advanced the understanding of viral immune modulation and disease progression, reinforcing the link between molecular research and public health applications. Dr. Akbarin’s scientific vision centers on developing integrative molecular approaches for infectious disease control, cancer immunotherapy, and system biology-driven therapeutic innovation, embodying a commitment to advancing medical science and improving global health outcomes through precision immunology. He has 120 citations from 19 documents with an h-index of 7.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus | ORCID

Publications

1. Tarokhian, H., Rahimi, H., Mosavat, A., Shirdel, A., Rafatpanah, H., Akbarin, M. M., et al. (2018). HTLV-1–host interactions on the development of adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma: Virus and host gene expressions.

2. Akbarin, M. M., Rahimi, H., HassanNia, T., Razavi, G. S., Sabet, F., & Shirdel, A. (2013). Comparison of HTLV-I proviral load in adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL), HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM-TSP) and healthy carriers.

3. Ramezani, S., Shirdel, A., Rafatpanah, H., Akbarin, M. M., Tarokhian, H., et al. (2017). Assessment of HTLV-1 proviral load, LAT, BIM, c-FOS and RAD51 gene expression in adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma. Medical Microbiology and Immunology

4. Akbarin, M. M., Shirdel, A., Bari, A., Mohaddes, S. T., Rafatpanah, H., Karimani, E. G., et al. (2017). Evaluation of the role of TAX, HBZ, and HTLV-1 proviral load on the survival of ATLL patients. Blood Research.

5. Jafarian, M., Mozhgani, S. H., Patrad, E., Vaziri, H., Rezaee, S. A., Akbarin, M. M., et al. (2017). Evaluation of INOS, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 gene expression: A study of adult T cell leukemia malignancy associated.